Theme 3: Data Access and Connectivity
Community-based health data research initiative
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Lead:
Tyler Williamson
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INNOVATION STAGE
Exploration
Health Innovation Focus
Health Data Security, Accessibility & Interoperability
Population and Setting
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Technology and Intervention
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BENEFITS
For Users
For Patients: Improved access to virtual care, enhanced continuity of care, and better health outcomes. For Providers: Simplified workflows, access to comprehensive patient data, and reduced administrative burden. For Administrators: Enhanced ability to deliver cost-effective, quality health programs and services.
For The System
System Efficiency: Improved data sharing and interoperability reduce duplication, errors, and delays in care delivery.
Better Health Outcomes: A connected health data system supports more effective and informed clinical decision-making.
Cost Reduction: Streamlined workflows and optimized virtual care lead to significant savings across the healthcare system.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Collective Impact governance ensures sustained alignment of policy, technology, and workflows across the health sector.
Project Theme Information
The healthcare sector in Alberta is increasingly relying on virtual care to deliver programs and services, but challenges in data access and interoperability limit its effectiveness. Health information systems often operate in silos, creating barriers to seamless communication between healthcare providers and systems. These issues hinder the delivery of high-quality, efficient healthcare services and prevent patients from experiencing the full potential of virtual care. There is a critical need to align health data governance, policy, workflows, and technology to optimize care delivery, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes across Alberta.
The Alberta Virtual Care Coordinating Body (AVCCB) is spearheading a series of initiatives to optimize the quality of health programs and services by addressing health data access and interoperability. The AVCCB uses a principle-based health data governance framework to promote better alignment of policy, technology, workflows, and regulations across the healthcare sector. Through a Collective Impact model, the AVCCB brings together stakeholders from across the health system to collaboratively set consensus policies and strategies, starting with virtual care and expanding to broader health data optimization.
Advisory and Oversight: The AVCCB, composed of stakeholders across the health sector, advises and oversees projects that align with the principles of optimal health data governance. Collective Impact Framework: Using a shared authority model, the AVCCB collaborates with healthcare providers, administrators, and policy makers to set consensus approaches to health data design and use. Data Access and Interoperability: Projects focus on enhancing the integration of virtual care with broader health data systems by promoting interoperability and accessibility for all users. Policy and Workflow Alignment: Establish principles-based alignment of workflows, regulations, and technology to support scalable and sustainable virtual care services.
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Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province.
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The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system.
It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together.